On this Mother’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is highlighting California’s trailblazing Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. This program, which is a first in the United States, allows eligible individuals to receive financial assistance for up to eight weeks while taking time off from work to care for loved ones. This could be to bond with a new baby or foster/adopted child, to look after a sick family member, or to support a service member deployed overseas. It is a state-run resource designed to financially assist residents during significant life events.

The EDD Director, Nancy Farias, emphasizes the importance of giving individuals the financial capability to focus on family matters at crucial times in their lives. The PFL has been in operation for 20 years as of July 1, 2024, with 13 other states and the District of Columbia introducing similar programs within that time. Throughout its operation, the PFL program has distributed over $16 billion in benefits to support workers when they take necessary time off. The EDD has handled more than 4.6 million claims over this period, with the predominant use of PFL being for parental bonding with a new child. There has also been a notable increase in claims for those caring for seriously ill family members and those supporting military families during foreign deployments.

For individuals interested in taking advantage of the benefits offered by the PFL program, or if you simply wish to inquire about eligibility, the EDD encourages you to visit their official website. Alternatively, you may wish to get information directly from a representative. In such a case, refer to the website eddcaller.com on how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave customer service. The website provides in-depth instructions on how you reach a live person from the EDD. Eddcaller.com is a helpful resource for any queries or needs you may have regarding California’s Paid Family Leave program.